Muller type mixer



1936- A. G. J. RAPP ET AL ,049,866

MULLER TYPE MIXER Filed Dec. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS -G- RAPPATTORNEY P 5,4 6. QPA/mm' Aug. 4, 1936. A. c. J. RAPP ET AL MULLER TYPEMIXER 5 Sheets-Shea 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1932 INVENTORS Af l/ RAPP A..GRAN/47H ATTORNEY Eta? Ii Aug. 4, 1936. A G RAPP ET AL 2,049,866

MULLER TYPE MIXER Filed Dec. 9, 1932 s Sheets-Shet s 6 E V A K/( I J L Uit I ,4 nfh ii? iii Ilq 9 M 1 l l A EEE 5 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1936UNETED stares 2,049,866 MULLER TYPE MIXER Axel G. J. Rapp, Evanstcn, andAxel G.

' Granath, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 9, 1932, Serial No. 646,452

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improvement in muller type mixers and hasfor one object the provision of an improved and simplified structure forsuch mixers. Another object is the provision of improved supporting andadjusting means for the muller rolls. Another object is the provision ofimproved means for supporting and assembling the muller bed. Anotherobject is the provision of improved means for holding and adjusting theplows of such a muller. Another object is the provision of improveddriving means for such a muller. Another object is the provision ofimproved lubricant containing means in association with the base. Otherobjects will appear from time to time in the course of the specificationand claims.

We illustrate our invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of our structure;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; v I

Figure 3 is a View, from below, of the bed;

Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scaletaken on the line 44 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a partial section similar to Figure 2 of a variant drive;and

Figure 9 is a similar section of a further variant drive.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates any suitablesurfac'e'or support upon which the device may be positioned. A is a basewhich may be a single casting of generally cylindrical shape having anupper outwardly extending flange A an intermediate lower set-01f A and abottom flange A The set-off A provides an outwardly 45 extending portionA against which may be secured in any suitable fashion an oil pan A witha central oil outlet A closed by any suitable means for example by thescrew-threaded headed member A. A indicates a flanged opening at oneside of the member A the purpose for which will later appear.

Mounted upon the lateral extension of the flange A we show in Figure '2a gear reducer structure generally indicated as B, the details of whichdo not form part of the present invention.

It is shown as removably supported upon the member A being positionedfor example by the bolts B with the nuts B It carries a bevel pinion Bwhich extends inwardly through the flanged opening A into the interior01Ev the base 5 A where it meshes with the bevel gear B B is anysuitable shaft whereby, through the gear reducer, the pinion B may berotated and thus drive the gear B A indicates any suitable oil seal.

0 generally indicates a center casting structure which includes or hascast integral with it an outward extension C terminating in a downwardflange (3 adapted to rest upon the flange A of the base A As shown inFigure 5, the flange 15 C? may have outward extensions or ears C throughwhich pass any suitable securing bolts C whereby the center casting issecured in position upon the base A The center casting further includesan upwardly extending cylinder or turret C which is apertured to receivea bearing flange C for the ball or roller bearing generally indicated asC". Secured to the lower portion of the sleeve C as by bolts C is thelower bearing cup C which with the bearing spacer C receives the ballbearing C Also supported upon the flange A is the muller bed generallyindicated as D which has an inner flange D provided with ears D throughwhich pass locking bolts C As will be clear from Figure 5 the flanges orears C and D alternate or are staggered about the flange A both thecenter casting C and the bed D being supported upon the same flange andboth being separately removable therefrom. The bed is provided with aplurality of door openings D which may be closed by any suitable doors Dactuated by any suitable shaft D from a mechanism not herein shown. D isheld in place by bearing caps D thus enabling the user to drop the gatemechanism, the caps D being removably bolted to the bed. The bed isprovided also with an outer flange D the flanges D and D being connectedfor example by strengthening ribs D The bed is provided also with anupwardly extending peripheral flange D to which is secured any suitablecrib D It will be observed that we have illustrated in Figure 3 no lessthan four door openings, three of which may be covered by the plate L Itwill be further understood that the bed D may be shifted in rela- 59tion to the base A to any desired degree. The bed, which is separatefrom the center casting or turret C, may be positioned to set its dooror doors at any desired point, since the turret lugs C and the bed lugsD are in staggered relation, and any single bolt C on the base may beused to secure either a turret lug or a bed lug depending upon whatparticular adjustment is made.

E generally indicates a vertical shaft to the bottom of which is keyedor otherwise secured the bevel gear 3*. The lower portion of. the shaftis received by the ball or roller bearings C The lower bearing spacermay be secured in relation to the shaft E and any suitable packing orwiping means may be interposed between it and the bearing cup 0 Eindicates a cross-head which may be keyed to the upper portion of theshaft E and which includes a downwardly extending hub ll positionedwithin the'ball or roller bearing 0 The cross-head overhangs the upperedge of the central turret C as at E and packing or oil seal means E areprovided within the overhang as will be clear from Figures 2 and 4. Thecrosshead is provided with diametrically opposed lateral extensions E towhich are secured plow beams E These may be removably secured as by thebolts E and nuts E The plow beams may have lateral extensions as at Ethe purpose for which will later appear. Upwardly extending from thecross-head are the driving lugs E through which passes the cross-headshaft E Mounted on the cross-head shaft are the two muller arms G, GEach muller arm is provided with two eyes, and outside eye G mounted onthe end of the shaft E and an inner eye G mounted on the shaft betweenthe two driving lugs E As will be clear from Figure 4, these, eyes arestaggered, those shown in section being associated with one arm andthose shown in side elevation being connected with the other. Endwisemovement of. the shaft E is prevented as by the screws G which alsoserve to hold in position the cover plate G which overhangs the edges ofthe muller arms G, G Note that the muller arms are provided withinclined cover portions G the upper edges of which penetrate beneath thecover plateG as will be clear from Figure 2. Note also that the mullerarms are formed with sloping faces, as will be clear from Figures 1 and2, so as to shed the sand. Secured to the ends of the muller arms arebearing pins G each having a plurality of roller bearings G about whichrotates the muller center G9 with its rim G spaced or secured as forexample by wooden wedges G. G G are any suitable bearing protectingplates. The downward movement of the muller assembly as a whole may belimited as by the adjusting set screws G which engage adjusting screwdiscs G on, the cross head E. Thereby, the closest approach of themullers to the bottom of the pan may be limited as shown for example inFigure 2.

Mounted on the lateral projections E of each plow arm or beam E, asshown in detail in Figure 6, is an abutment plate I-I having verticaledge flanges as at H with opposed wedge faces H which engagecorrespondingly formed faces upon the inside plow support member H H maybe vertically adjusted in relation to H, being adjustably held inposition as by the bolts H with the nuts H The inside plow structureproper, H is adjustably secured to the support H as by the bolts H". Theinside plow is preferably adjusted to approach rather closely to the bedand serves to move the sand or material treated outwardly toward themuller rims G At the extremity of each plow beam E as shown in Figure'7, is an abutment member J which may be formed integrally with the endof the arm E Positioned near it is an adjusting bolt J with upper andlower adjusting nuts J J J is an outside plow holding strap, with anupper flange J 5 which extends inwardly over the top of the abutment Jand is apertured to receive the adjusting screw J in relation to whichit may be adjustably secured as by the nuts J J The strap J isvertically slotted as at J through which slots pass any suitableadjusting bolts J", whereby the assembly may be clamped in any desiredposition of adjustment. The strap further extends out from its lowerportion with an arcuate extension J which is V- shaped in cross section.Adjustably secured to it is an extension J slotted as at J to receivethe adjusting securing bolt J whereby the member J 9 may in effect beextended. The two parts are of arcuate shape and it will be noted thattheir are describes a center about the point J which is adjacent theedge of the outer plow J which is secured in position as by any securingbolts J By the employment of this relationship of parts theplow may beadjusted as to angle, while always maintaining its edge adjacent theinner face of the crib D as will be clear from Figure 1.

It will be realized that whereas we have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposition of parts Without departing from thespirit of our invention. We therefore wish our description and showingto be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic ratherthan as limiting us to our specific showing.

For example, in Figure 8 we illustrate a variant form of drive in whichthe gear reduction B is omitted and in its place is positioned a singlestraight shaft K mounted in roller bearings K and a sleeve K mountedupon the lateral extension A of the base A As a further modification ofthe drive we illustrate in Figure 9 a shaft K extending all the wayacross the base A having bearings K at one side of the base A and K atthe other.

The use and operation of our invention are as follows:

We provide a simple, convenient and economic type of muller in which forexample the base A serves also as a lubricant container for the drive.The central casting with the upper turret C serves as cover for the baseand encloses the drive and thus houses the lubricant. It also supportsthe floor or bed L on which the inner portion of the material to beoperated upon rests. The bed which receives the weight of the mullers,namely the outer bed structure L rests upon the main bed structure D andis readily removable therefrom. The bed structure D is itself readilyremovable from the machine. In other words, the bed D may be removedwithout disturbing the central structure or the central structure may beremoved without disturbing the bed or both may be removed, for completedisassembly of the plants. While the bed L preferably has but a singleopening L which may be aligned with any suitable discharge gate, moremay be provided. Note that the bolts 0 and their corresponding boltholes are spaced fifteen degrees apart about the flange A As each bolthole may with equal ease receive a bolt for holding the bed D or thecentral casting C, since the lugs for the two parts interpenetrate orare staggered, it is clear that the bed may be set with the discharginggates at any desired point in relation to the machine.

The ball bearings which support the cross head and the mullers do notdeliver anystress to the shaft itself. These bearings are at the topofthe central casting C and the upper portion C there'- of 1 and thedelivery of Weight is through the muller and the muller arms to thecrosshead E and from the cross head to theball bearings C and thence'to theupper edge of the sleeve C and thus downwardly to the flange A and thebase A This permitsready adjustment of the vertical shaft Ewhich iskeyed to the cross head, as the shaft does not itselfreceive any weightfromv the muller or, cross head. 'However, the upper ball bearings C docenter the shaft and cross head and take whatever lateral thrust thereis, inconnection of'course with the lower ball bearings C Note thatthere are two driving lugs G cast with or formed integrally with thecross head structure E which cross heads receive the shaft E on whichthe muller arms or beams are mounted. These two driving lugs deliver therotary force necessary to rotate the muller arms and mullers. They aresufficiently far apart efficiently to deliver the required force. Notethat these driving lugs also receive the set screws G which hold theshaft E from rotation and which hold the cover plate G in position. Themuller arms or beams are rotatably mounted upon this shaft, each mullerarm having a pair of hubs which interpenetrate or are staggered alongthe shaft. These hubs are positioned under the cover plate G and aretherefore protected from sand or the like. The arms have sloping sidesto conform to the cover plate G forming a species of roof or protectionwith overlapping eaves. Note that each muller arm is individuallyadjustable, as by the adjusting screw G to limit its downward movementtoward the bed.

The inner plows move the sand outwardly toward the muller rims G and theouter plows move the sand inwardly toward the mullers, thus insuringthat the material is thoroughly mixed and that all of it is directedinto the path of the heavy muller rollers. Each plow is individuallyadjustable vertically and, what is quite important, the outer plows arereadily adjustable as to angle, as has already been described.

We claim:

1. In a muller, a hollow base member, a unitary bed supporting structuremounted upon and closing the top of said base member, said structureincluding a sleeve upwardly'extending from the level of the bed, a bedmounted upon said bed supporting structure, and a muller structureincluding a part rotatable in said sleeve and muller elements located ata level above said bed, and an additional bed supporting structurepositioned upon said base member and surrounding said first mentionedbed supporting structure, and an additional bed member mounted thereon.

2. In a muller, a hollow base member, a unitary bed supporting structuremounted upon and closing the top of said base member, said structureincluding a sleeve upwardly extending from the level of the bed, a bedmounted upon said bed supporting structure, a muller structure includinga part rotatable in said sleeve, muller elements located at a levelabove said bed, an additional bed supporting structure positioned uponsaid base member and surrounding said first mentioned bed supportingstructure, and an additional bed member mounted thereon, said basemember being provided with a peripheral flange about its upper edge,said two bed supporting structures including portions resting upon saidflange.

.. 3. In a muller, a hollow base member, a bed structure mounted uponand closing the top of said base member, said structure including asleeve upwardly extending from the level of the bed structure, andamuller structure, including a part rotatable in said sleeve and mullerelements located at a level above said bed structure, and anadditionalbed structure positioned upon said base member and surrounding saidfirst mentioned bed structure, both said bed structures beingindividually removable from the hoilow base member. a

4. In a muller, a hollow base member, a bed structure mounted upon andclosing the top of said base member, said structure including a sleeveupwardly extending from the level of the bed structure, and a mullerstructure, including a part rotatable in said sleeve and muller elementslocated at a level above said bed structure, and an additional bedstructure positioned upon said base member and surrounding said firstmentioned bed structure, both said bed structures being individuallyremovable from the hollow base member and securing means intermediatethe bed structures and the hollow base member, adapted to secure saidbed structures in relation to the hollow base member at a plurality ofangular relationships.

5. In a muller, a hollow base member, a bed structure mounted upon andclosing the top of said base member, said structure including a sleeveupwardly extending from the level of the bed structure, and a mullerstructure, including a part rotatable in said sleeve and muller elementslocated at a level above said bed structure, and an additional bedstructure positioned upon said base member and surrounding said firstmentioned bed structure, both said bed structures being individuallyremovable from the hollow .base member and angularly adjustablethereabout, said base member being provided with a peripheral flangeabout its upper edge, said two bed structures including portions restingupon said flange.

6. In a muller, a base member, a bearing sleeve extending verticallyupwardly therefrom, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve, across head held against rotation in relation to said shaft, means forrotating said shaft and cross head, driving lugs upwardly extending fromsaid cross head and widely spaced apart upon opposite sides of its axisof rotation, a cross shaft positioned in said driving lugs, muller armspivoted to said shaft and mullers rotatably mounted upon said mullerarms, anda cover plate mounted upon said cross head and overlying andshielding the abutting ends of said muller arms.

'7. In a muller, a base member, a bearing sleeve extending verticallyupwardly therefrom, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve, across head held against rotation in relation to said shaft, means forrotating said shaft and cross head, driving lugs upwardly extending fromsaid cross head and widely spaced apart upon opposite sidesof its axisof rotation, a cross shaft positioned in said driving lugs, muller armspivoted to said cross shaft and mullers rotatably mounted upon saidmuller arms, each said muller arm having a plurality of hubs engagingsaid cross shaft on opposite sides of the axis of said vertical shaft,the hubs of the muller arms being staggered along said cross shaft.

8. In a muller, a base member, a muller bed,

muller members and means for moving them across said bed, plow beams andmeans for rotating them above said bed and plows mounted upon the end ofsaid plow beams and means for adjusting said plows angularly Whilemaintaining the edges of said plows at a predetermined distance from thecenter of rotation of the plow beams including opposed engaging surfacescooperatively carried by the plows and beams and shaped and dimensionedto limit angular movement of the plows with respect to the beams tomovement about points coinciding substantially with the leading edges ofthe plows.

9. In a muller, a base member, a muller bed, muller members and meansfor moving them across said bed, plow beams-and means for rotating themabove said bed and plows mounted upon the end of said plow beams andmeans for adjusting said plows angularly while maintaining the edges ofsaid plows at a predetermined distance from the center of rotation ofthe plow beams, including opposed arcuate engaging members on plows andbeams, the center of their are being adjacent to the periphery of thebed in substantial coincidence with the point of intersection therewithof the leading edge of the plow, and means for securing them together inadjusted position.

AXEL G. J. RAPP.

AXEL G. GRANA'I'H.

